Felsen – TOUR TIPS

This new set of Tour Tips was written by the drummer, Art McConnell, of the indie pop-rock band, Felsen. You can check out his tips for being on tour, after the break.

1. Pack Light!: You will be loading and unloading the van at every venue and if not sleeping in the van you should bring the gear and any personal belongings inside with you at night; so you are going to want to have to deal with as little weight and items as possible. Keep in mind you will probably be at some point deprived of any significant amount of sleep and/or drunk during the tour and that load out can be brutal after expending every last ounce of your soul during the show. Also NEVER EVER EVER SHY AWAY FROM LOAD IN/LOAD OUT! That makes you a dick and your band mates will find you out sooner or later and will alienate you! Remember to look out for one another and each others belongings perform multiple idiot checks!

2. ALLOW TIME TO BE A TOURIST: Have you dug Wall Drug? Most touring in the US involves many hours of driving from the venue and on to the next one. While you are out there for the music some of the greatest aspects of touring are the random stops in places you would never have thought existed; Worlds largest Babe The Blue Ox statue, The Mystery Spot…whatever! One of my favorite tour experiences was on last years FELSEN tour stop in Chicago. Getting out and walking the city to go see Wrigley Field was magnificent (I don’t even like baseball!). Other favorite past touring experiences was touring through the Northern New England states in the summer and stopping to swim in 3different states (and not once in a pool) in one day! Passing around a mason jar of moonshine with some mid-western hosts until the wee hours of the morning. That corn liquor made sleeping on a hardwood floor that much more possible!

3. FOOD & DRINK: Always grab as much bottled water from the venue at the end of the night and be sure to ask multiple locals about the best breakfast joint in town (avoid chains at all costs!) and if someone offers to make breakfast for you and you don’t think they are at all creepy take them up on it! Touring is about being open to as many new situations and people as possible but be safe! In our band we have a safe word that we use (jokingly mostly) if one of us feels that a certain situation is of not a great vibe. Buy Beef Jerky! Try to keep it locally made by mom and pops.

4. WEIRD AND OTHER SHIT I ALWAYS BRING OUT: Gold Bond Powder ( Nobody wants a grundle burn and no one else wants to smell it.) Ear PLugs (I snore….HARD! I’ve been awoken with violent shoving from grumpy ass morning people which is the category that most musicians fall under. I can’t do much about my earsplitting nasal rumblings but I find that if I offer others protection from what I surely know is coming they will be a little less mean to me in the morning!) Duck Tape ( Because your singer probably wont shut up on his own and he needs to save his voice!). Funny Hats for everyone. A Full size Bunny Suit. These need no explanation. IPOD or some other MP3 player but don’t just load up on music..Your band mates will get tired of hearing your music and listening to comedy albums on that 14 hour drive from Aberdeen, South Dakota to Missoula, Montana may be just the thing to keep every from going absolutely bat shit in the van!

5. The Restaurant scene: You gotta eat and it seems that everyone in FELSEN is a certified foodie ( Before/while playing drums in rock bands I have worked in kitchens across some of the most beautiful places in North America) Throughout the bands existence we have always searched out some of the best local restaurants in every spot we have played and spent the night. You will be surprised what you can find out there the only rule is NO NATIONAL CHAIN Restaurants! Here is a list of spots that are FELSEN must visits:

Robertitos in the Fresno. Dangerous yet delicious all night mexican eatery. Boynton-McKay in Camden Me, actually I used to hit this spot pre-FELSEN. Its a great home breakfast spot. The Friendly Toast in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Unbelievable coffee and arguably the best breakfast burrito around. The taco stand on South State st. in SLC, UT near BURTS Tiki Lounge. The chicharron en salsa rojas tacos are deadly AND delicious and they are only a buck! The Grilled Cheese Grill on Alberta St in Portland Or. Its open late and you get to eat in a school bus! The City State Diner in Portland Or. Run by FELSEN super fans and home to a really great Cuban Sandwich. Snooze in Denver Co. A great breakfast spot in FELSEN’s other home. Brads Swingside Cafe in Seattle Wa. Excellent Italian food. Daimond Thai in Sioux City Ia. I know I know I know Thai food in Iowa? YES this place is unanimous  Favorite in the band This place is seriously great and holds it own up against any Thai place I have been throughout the US and UK.

This is a partial list it seems we eat mostly breakfast around here.

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